The West Network

Social Mobility studies reveal that Charlotte is divided by race, income, family structure, school quality, and social capital. A growing collaborative of churches, non-profit organizations, and marketplace leaders in West Charlotte is actively engaged in bringing Biblical Justice to these stubborn facts in the zip code of 28208—especially along the Freedom Drive Corridor. This network exists to serve children and families in the neighborhoods nearest the high-poverty schools along this three-mile stretch of road (from Pinky’s Westside Grill to Allenbrook Elementary).

The West Charlotte Network unites around a love for Jesus and a love for our city. We express this through weekly Wednesday prayer, collaborative events, reconciling relationships, and church-school partnerships. We have a particular focus on reading proficiency for PreK-3 students, and we are joining the effort with Read Charlotte to raise our city’s reading proficiency by 2025. Together, we can achieve measurable positive results for the emerging generations in our part of the city.

It all starts for us with Prayer. Anyone is welcome to join us at Center City Church (inside The Movement Center at 2225 Freedom Drive) for weekly Wednesday Prayer from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. This recurring event on our calendars represents the foundational pillar of our movement, and our joyful starting point for engagement in our part of the city.

We look forward to collaborating with you!

Marc Dickmann
Director of Education & Community
Freedom Communities
West Network Leader

UPCOMING NETWORK EVENTS:

Weekly Wednesday Noontime Prayer

DATE: Every Wednesday, Rain or Shine, at 12 o’clock Noon.
LOCATION: Center City Church — upstairs and inside The Movement Center (2225 Freedom Drive • Charlotte, NC 28208)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Weekly, fervent, Kingdom-centered Prayer is the hallmark of our network. Our heart is to keep Jesus at the center of all that we do, as we pray for our city and our neighbors. Each week is facilitated by a different leader in our network. Anyone is welcome to join us. Stay for a few minutes or the entire hour. Or, pray with us wherever you may be.
HOSTS: Center City Church, the Harvest Center & Freedom Communities

Tell True Stories: Layers of History Along Freedom Drive – Audio Links

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Audio from the recent discussions on the history of Camp Greene—including presentations from historians Tom Hanchett, J. Michael Moore; community leaders Ricky Hall, Christian Friend, and Greg Jarrell; and best-selling author Peter Moskowitz—are now available on the Center City Church SoundCloud site. Head to the “Tell True Stories” links here

Rethinking Incarceration & Upward Mobility & the Arts: Audio Available

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Audio, resource links and other follow-up information on the recent discussions on incarceration, and upward mobility and the arts are now available on the Warehouse Talks web site. Click here for more information.

NETWORK COLLABORATIONS:

Reading Buddies and Active Listening A-B-C’s

Our friends from Read Charlotte help resource the city so that we can best serve our neighborhood students who need reading support. This 3-minute video (bottom of the page) is a helpful tool in preparing us for being a great Reading Mentor for a West Charlotte student.

West Network Facebook Group

If you want to follow us, and stay current on how you can engage in our movement, you can join our Facebook Group. Send a request to our administrator to join in!

“Why We Do What We Do: Part 3—Reconciling Relationships”

AUDIO DOWNLOAD: Pastor James Scott (The Exchange Church) recently challenged us with “Why We Pursue Reconciling Relationships”—one of the pillars of our movement. The MP3, recorded at Renovatus Church, is available for download here.

Experiential Learning: A Month in Poverty

What does it feel like to walk a mile in the shoes of a lower income West Charlotte neighbor? Click here to take an online poverty simulation—and why not invite your kids to do it with you? There is power in “seeking first to understand.” It’s more than a game—this is reality for many of our neighbors.

Aligning Our Efforts for West Charlotte

If your church, ministry, non-profit, or business is interested in partnering with The West Network to make a measurable impact on the next generation of West Charlotte, please email Marc Dickmann of Freedom Communities.